Stating their intentions to grow pro soccer throughout the East Bay and Northern California, USL East Bay announced today that they intend to pursue not only one but two professional soccer teams in Oakland and Concord.

In an open letter to USL East Bay fans, Hall Sports Ventures President Mark Hall stated that his organization hopes to bring a new way of thinking about pro soccer by creating the two East Bay teams.

Although a self-described soccer “newbie” Hall sees unlimited growth possibilities for the world’s most popular sport in America and the Bay Area. For example, he notes around Manchester England there are 27 pro teams in a 30-mile radius.

“So, when you hear about our pursuit of “this” stadium venture, or that one, don’t think either one or the other,” Hall writes. “That is old line thinking, and certainly not soccer. Instead, think all… or at least think multiple. Concord? Yes. Oakland? Yes. Sacramento? Yes. San Jose? Yes.”

“We’ve studied the demographics, and we’re thinking dual stadiums, dual teams in our East Bay market,” said Hall. “If we could only do one team, we would go to the larger stadium; if we could do two, we’d have a stadium in each location.”

A former standout soccer player at Northwestern University, McDermott played professionally in the USL and Germany. After hanging up his boots, he worked as an assistant soccer coach at Northwestern and the US Soccer Development Academy in Los Angeles.

“In his expanded role, Andy will manage sporting activities for our new East Bay franchises,” said Hall. “This will include player and coaching staff contract management, player relations, and activities associated with competitive play for our new East Bay area expansion team.”

SF City and CD Aguiluchos USA will face off in US Open Cup.

SF City and CD Augiluchos face off in the first round of US Open Cup

Only two lower division soccer teams in the Bay Area qualified for the 2018 US Open Cup, and they will play each other on May 9th in Oakland.

The NPSL’s CD Aguiluchos USA will host their first-round match against the USL PDL side SF City and at Raimondi Park in Oakland at 6 pm. The winner will advance to a potential game against a professional soccer team.

It is the 105th edition of the US Open Cup. The tournament competition is open to all amateur and professional soccer teams in America.

San Francisco club El Farolito also qualified for the tournament when it was in the San Francisco Football Soccer League, but they were not allowed to compete this year after switching to the NPSL.

Skyline College soccer coach Gabe Saucedo will join the SF Glens as an assistant coach for the 2018 USL-PDL season. (SF Glens)

SF Glens announce several new players, coach signing

Setting the framework for their first season as a USL-PDL side, The San Francisco Glens announced a new assistant coach and several players.

“We are excited to add Gabe on our technical staff,” Ayala-Hil said. “He has had a lot of success at the community college level, but more importantly his approach to the game aligns with our style of play. It’s a great fit for the Glens’ PDL team.”

The team also announced the signing of several players. The team’s first signing was former City College of San Francisco standout Stephen Cordova.

“He’s a local product with plenty of experience playing in the San Francisco area,” noted Ayala-Hil. “One thing he has been very consistent with during his playing career is his knack for goal. Those are qualities you can’t really teach.”

The team has also added Adrian Medina who will be playing for SF State next season, St. Mary’s Marcus Simmons, Cal State Fullerton’s Rei Dorwart, SF Glens Evolution coach Gabe Silveria, SF State’s Emmanuel Jimenez, UC Davis’s Roy Boateng, and CCSF product Christian Carranza.

The Glens will open their USL-PDL season May 5th at Boxer Stadium in San Francisco.

NPSL season continues with East Bay Derby

The NPSL East Bay Derby will take place this weekend between CD Aguiluchos USA and the East Bay FC Stompers at Raimondi Park in Oakland at 7 pm.

In other games Napa Valley 1839 FC will host El Farolito at Dodd Stadium, and Sonoma County Sol FC will host FC Davis at Casa Grande High School. Both games start at 7 pm.

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Douglas Zimmerman is SFGate’s soccer beat writer covering the “beautiful game” in the Bay Area and around the world. He also is working on a photo essay photographing the fans of the World Cup that he started in 2002.